Packaging method and apparatus



July 2, 1968 c. E. CLOUD T AL 3,390,617

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July 2, 1968 c. E. CLOUD ET AL PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 28, 1962 TUBE FORMER S m .1 OK 0 U A& W MOS A LU W n 5 EMK s mu 5 Ann RV- 7 CW 0 i I T LL u a N M I a V M v8 Lu July 2,. 1968 c. E. CLOUD ETAL PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS "7Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 28, 1962 $VTRMITTENT INVENTOmCHARLES. E. CLOUD, LAWRENCE M HUSAK a LLOYD N. KROHN 2% gm" &

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C. E. CLOUD ET AL PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS July 2, 1968 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 28, 1962 July 2, 1968 c. E. CLOUD ETAL 3,399,617

PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 28, 1962 '7Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS CHARLES E, CLOUD,

LAWENCE M. HUSAKB LLOYD N. KROHN July 2, 1968 c, CLOUD ET AL 3,390,617

PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 28, 1962 7Sheets-Sheet 7 IN EN CHARLES ([8 0 LAWRENCE M. HusAKh LLOYD N. KROHNUnited States Patent 3,390,617 PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Charles E.Cloud and Lawrence M. Husak, Wilmette, and Lloyd N. Krohn, Chicago,Ill., assignors to Cloud Machine Corporation, Skokie, L, a corporationof Delaware Original application Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,215, nowPatent No. 3,269,087, dated Aug. 30, 1966. Di ided and this applicationJan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 521,488

6 Claims. (Cl. 93-$) This application is a division of the presentinventors co-pending application, Ser. No. 176,215 filed Feb. 28, 1962,now US. Patent No. 3,269,087, issued Aug. 30, 1966.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use inobtaining longitudinal indexing or registration in feeding a web, as inthe packaging of product, wherein a continuous tube is formed ofpackaging material with the tube subsequently being divided intoindividual packages.

In the usual instance, appearance and cost are the most significantfactors in the packaging of product. Oftentimes differences in cost ofonly very small fractions of a cent will determine whether the producerwill use one type of packaging apparatus and process or another. Wherethe number of units of product to be packaged are myriad suchdifferences in cost of packaging can be a significant factor in theoverall company profit. This factor may be the difference betweenwhether a profit or loss results if the retail price of the item isrelatively low.

Appearance, i.e. sales appeal, of the package always is significant.However, it is an extremely important consideration if the product isone which is purchased in a self-service store. It is well recognizedthat many of the sales under such conditions are impulse sales. Even ifthe purchaser is looking for a particular type of product his selectionof a specific brand of product may be more or less on an impulse typebasis, that is, influenced by appearance of the product as it is viewedon display in comparison with the products of competitors. Even in thenon-self-service stores a customer is attracted to a particular productbecause of its appearance in the display case, etc.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a packaging methodand apparatus for producing low cost, attractive packages on acontinuous basis. Our invention is ideally suited for use in automaticpackaging, with the elimination of any hand operations. A neat,attractive package can be produced. The use of our process does notresult in protruding fiaps at the two sides of the package, which aresometimes thought to impair the appearance of the package. At the sametime, fiat end closures are obtained which can be useful in providing ahanging tab to facilitate the display of the product on racks.

Our invention is ideally suited to be used in the packaging of all typesof product, including single units such as candy bars, particulatematerial such as unpopped popcorn, and liquids such as liquid flavoringsfor beverages.

Another feature of our invention is its adaptability to the variedrequirements of different producers of product. In some instances, thecomplete manufacture of a package from a film of packaging material maytake place in the producers plant. In other instances, the producer willpurchase a tube of packaging material which will be formed intoindividual packages in his plant. As a further alternative, the producermay purchase rolls of tubing preformed into individual compartmentswhich are merely filled, closed, and divided into packages by theproducer. Another example of the variations that can be achieved wouldbe that the producer can pack and ship a plurality of individualpackages, or the packages may 3,399,617 Patented July 2, 1968 be afiixedtogether in a continuous line or roll. If desired, in the latterinstance, transverse perforations may be provided to facilitate dividingthe line or roll into individual units.

Our invention is adapted for use with practically any one of thenumerous varieties of flexible packaging-material, although it wasdevised primarily for the heat-sealable plastics, as for examplepolyvinyl chloride or rubber hydrochloride. Thus, the user of our methodis not limited to the use of materials which for the users purposesmight not be the most suitable. The material that he uses may beselected for reasons other than the dictates of the packaging process tobe followed.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an embodiment of ourinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the preformed tubeutilized in the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of the tube separator used in theembodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational section of the embodiment of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial section as viewed along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an alternative of aportion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1' FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of aportion .of the apparatus of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the backing plate used in the embodiment ofFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of a further modification of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an embodiment of ourinvention for forming a tube of preformed compartments to be used inpackaging;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatical elevational view of another alternativefor FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an alternative apparatusfor forming a tube of preformed compartments;

FIGURE 13 is a section taken at line 13'13 of FIG- URE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a section taken at line 1414 of FIG- URE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the preformed tubeproduced on the apparatus of FIGURE '12;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a machine forproducing packages of ice cream bars utilizing a tube of preformedcompartments;

FIGURES 17 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16;and

FIGURES 18 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 16with portions broken away.

Intent clause Although the following disclosure offered for publicdissemination is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, thisnot intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to covereach new inventive concept the-rein no matter how others may laterdisguise it by variations in forms or additionsor further improvements.The claims at the end hereof are intended as the chief aid toward thispurpose, as it is these that rneet the requirements of pointing out theparts, improvements, or combinations in which the inventive concepts arefound.

General description In our invention a tube of packaging material isformed. Normally this will be done from a length of flat stock,

although the tube could be formed by an extrusion process from the rawplastic. Machines are available for forming the tube from a length ofplastic sheet.

After the tube has been formed, a series of cuts are made in one side ofthe tube to provide openings for the subsequent insertion of product.These cuts are made at regular intervals throughout the length of thetube. Before, after, or simultaneously with, the making of the cuts, atransverse seal is made between each pair of adjacent cuts. Theorientation of the seals, with respect to the length of the tube, issuch that each seal is immediately adjacent a respective one of the cuts(of each pair) and spaced from the other of the cuts. Thus, between saidother out and the transverse sea-l there is a compartment to receive theproduct to be packaged and to define a package thereabout.-

Either simultaneously with or subsequent to the making of the transverseseal to define a compartment, the product is inserted into thecompartment. Thereafter, a second seal is made between the product andthe cut opening through which the product was inserted into thecompartment. Depending upon the desires of the producer, the goods nowmay be shipped as a length of a number of individual units of product,each within a separate compartment, or the compartments may be severedfrom one another to define individual packages of product.

We have discovered that important advantages are achieved by the initialformation of a continuous tube and thereafter cutting the tube at spacedintervals to provide the openings for the insertion of product. Amongthe advantages are: conventional tube making equipment may be employed;tubes without side flaps may be produced; and the-re is little problemin maintaining the orientation of the openings along one side of thetube.

Economies are achieved in our invention in that after the tube is formedit may be moved, continuously or intermittently, along a predeterminedpath. The various operations of cutting, sealing, filling, etc., can beperformed at various stations along the path by automatic machinery.Hand labor may be wholly or partially eliminated, depending upon thepreferences of the producer, with the usual savings attendant thereto.Numerous adaptations and variations of our invention, as well asadditional features thereof, will be appreciated by those skilled in theart from the following description of a few of the specific packagingoperations and equipment for carrying them out.

FIGURES '1-5 illustrate an embodiment utilizing a tube 19 of flexiblepackaging material. As seen in 'FIGURE 2, the tube has folds or gussetson two opposite sides. However, in this and in other embodimentsdiscussed herein, the tube may or may not have the side gussets.Machines for making such tube, with or without :gussets, are known inthe art and will not be described in detail herein. FIG- URE 1illustrates a preformed tube wound into a roll 20. However, the tubecould be taken directly from the forming machine if desired.

The preformed tube is moved along a predetermined path between a pair ofrolls 21, over a support plate 22, about a roller 23 and between a pairof sealing heads 24. Means not shown, but which could be of a typeillustrated elsewhere herein, are used to intermittently move the tubealong said path in direction indicated by arrow 25.

A mounting member 27 is recoprocated towards and away from support plate22. Mounting member 27 has depending legs 28 which straddle tube 19 asbest seen in FIGURE 5. Extending between legs -28 is a cutting wire 29which is heated by passing an electrical current through it.

Immediately below wire 29, a separator or backing plate 31 is receivedwithin tube 19. Plate 31 is made of a nonconductive material that willnot be deleteriously affected by the heat of wire 29. Atteached to therearward end (with respect to direction of movement 25) of plate 31 arespaced lugs 32. A pair of rollers '33 are journaled in lugs 32. Rollers33 are spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between rolls 21as best seen in FIG- URE 4.

Thus, as tube 19 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 25, thetube will move about rollers 33. To the extent that the tube tends todraw the rollers 33 and plate 31 in the direction indicaed by arrow thisis prevented by the limited spacing beween rolls 21. Backing plate 31will remain substantially in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4despite the movement of the tube 19.

Also depending from mounting member 27 are a second pair of legs 35. Aheated sealing bar 36 extends between legs 35. The spacing betweencutter 29 and sea-ling bar 36 is such that, when it is related to eachincrement of movement of tube 19, sealing bar 36 will afiix the sidewalls of tube 19 together at a point immediately adjacent the cut 37. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, the area in which the tube issealed is immediately adjacent the last cut 37 and on the side of thatcut closest to the portion of the tube in which the next cut will bemade by cutter 29. Referring to FIGURE 2, sealing bar 36 makes a sealacross tube 19 as illustrated at 38.

As tube 19 passes about roller 23, the unsealed portion of the tubeimmediately adjacent cut 37, tends to open outwardly to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 2. To facilitate and ensure the opening of eachcompartment in the tube, a blast of air is directed through nozzle 40into the mouth of the compartment. Upon each compartment being openedthe tube is brought to rest at one of the dwell periods between theintermittent movements of the tube. A measured amount of the product tobe packaged is allowed to descend by gravity from filling device 41 intothe open mouth of the compartment.

Thereafter tube 19 indexes downwardly. At a subsequent dwell station theopen mouth of the compartment comes between the pair of sealing heads 24which are reciprocated horizontally by an apparatus not shown. One orboth of sealing heads 24 are heated. When they are brought together, andheat and pressure is applied to the portion of the tube lyingimmediately below cut 37 of the filled compartment, the mouth of thecompartment is sealed together to form a tight package. As hereinafterdescribed, the tube subsequently may be cut to form individual packagesif desired.

Referring to FIGURES 6-8 the tube is drawn off roll 20 and about aroller 45. Tube 19 moves downwardly between a pair of rolls 46 as bestillustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. There is a support within the tube. Thesupport includes a roller 47 which is larger than the spacing betweenrolls 46. Roller 47 is journaled on an axle 48 of nonconductingmaterial. A pair of spring wire arms 49 are secured to axle 48. Anonconductive backing plate 50 is secured between arms 49'.

Opposite the position assumed by backing plate 50 is a hot wire cutter52 mounted on arms 53. Means 54 reciprocates arms 53 toward and awayfrom tube 19 in timed relationship to the intermittent movement of thetube, as hereinafter described. As hot wire 52 moves into the tube itcuts one wall of the tube as illustrated at 37.

Below the cutter is a movable sealing head 56 which is heated by aheater 57. A fixed backing plate 58 is employed to obtain the pressuredesirable for a good seal. Sealing head 56 is moved by the timed means54 toward and away from tube 19.

A pair of clamps 60 are moved toward and away from each other to engageand disengage tube 19 by a timed clamp control means 61. When clamps 60are pressed against opposite sides of tube 19 to engage the tube, atimed clamp moving means 62 moves the time clamp control means 61 andthe two clamps 60 downwardly. This indexes tube 19 downwardly by onestep. Thereafter, clamps 60 are moved apart by the timed clamp controlmeans 61 and the timed clamp moving means 62 moves the clamps upwardlyduring the dwell period. While clamps 60 are moving upwardly, cutter 52and sealing head 56 move to the left in FIGURE 6 to perform theoperations of cutting and presealing the tube at spaced points to definea series of compartments. Following this preforming, the tube could bererolled into a roll to be transported elsewhere for opening and fillingin accordance with one of the procedures described elsewhere herein. Asan alternative, at another station in its downwardly moving path tube 19could be opened at each of the unsealed areas adjacent one of the cuts37 for filling and subsequent sealing of the mouth of the compartment.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the tube has hadone side wall cut at 37 as elsewhere described herein. However, no sealsas yet have been made in tube 19 in FIGURE 9. Tube 19 is moveddownwardly along a predetermined path by apparatus not shown. Thismovement is intermittent. At a given dwell station, a vacuum cup 65moves against the side of the tube immediately below one of cuts 37. Afixed backing plate 66 is provided at the opposite side so that vacuumcup '65 may be pressed firmly into contact with the side of the tube.Vacuum is applied to cup 65 and the cup thereafter moved outwardly toopen the mouth of a compartment. At the same station a .heated sealinghead 67 is moved into contact with one side of the tube and presses itagainst a backing plate 68. Sealing head 67 holds the :bottom of theopen compartment pinched together so that product now may be insertedinto the compartment that was opened by vacuum cup 65. At the same timesealing head 67 forms a seal across the bottom of this compartment.

In addition to forming a seal across the bottom of the compartment thatis being filled, sealing head 67 also forms a seal across the top of thenext lower compartment (the :one that had been filled previous to thelast indexing). A punch 69 is reciprocably mounted within sea-ling head-67 and extends across the width of tube 19. Punch 69 is receivable in aslot 70 in backing plate 68. As punch 69 is moved into slot 70 itseparates the lowermost filled compartment from tube 19. At the .sametime, it removes the out line 37 so as to provide extremely neatappearing ends for each package.

When punch '69 and sealing head 67 are withdrawn (to the left in FIGURE9), the lowermost compartment is released and can be moved away by asuitable conveyor (not shown). Vacuum then is released from cup 65 andtube 19 is indexed downwardly one step. Subsequently, the top of thenext compartment is similarly opened by vacuum cup 65. Sealing head 67seals ofi the top of the previously filled compartment and the bottom ofthe compartment which is by now being filled. Punch 69 severs r the two.

FIGURE 11 illustrates an embodiment in which tube 19 is first movedupwardly for the cutting of one side thereof and then downwardly forfilling and sealing. Means, not shown, are provided for intermittentlymoving the tube along the path in the direction indicated by arrow 73.The tube first moves upwardly between a pair of rollers 74 which arespaced a short distance apart. Above rollers 74 a weighted backingmember 75 is received within tube 19. The thickness of backing member 75is greater than the distance between rollers 74. When tube 19 is atrest, backing member 75 will fall down against the top of rollers 74(separated only by the film of the tube). As tube 19 is indexed in thedirection indicated by arrow 73, the tube will slide about backingmember 75, and to a limited extent will act to lift the backing member75 away from rollers 74. However as soon as the tube stops moving, theweight of backing member 75 will cause it to again descend againstrollers 74.

During the dwell period, arms 76 are moved to the right to bring ahot-Wire cutter 77 against the side of the tube to make cuts 37 therein.

From the cutting station the tube moves about rolls 79.

moved forwardly against the cut side of the tube and pressure is appliedagainst backing members 66. The top of the compartment to be filled isopened by applying vacuum to vacuum cup 65 and moving the cup to theright. A pair of heated sealing heads 80 are moved together to form aseal across the top of the compartment previously filled and the bottomof the opened compartment which is now ready to be filled. The productthen is inserted in the opened, unfilled compartment.

During the same dwell period, a pair of arms 81 carrying a cutter 82 aremoved to the left in FIGURE 11 to separate the two filled compartments.Cutter 82 comprises a hot wire which burns through the sealed areabetween the lowermost filled compartment and the compartment immediatelyabove it. As the two are separated the lowermost compartment can bemoved away for packing and shipment. After cutter 82 moves back to theright out of the path of the next compartment, sealing heads 80 areseparated and the vacuum released from vacuum cups 65. Tube 19 then isindexed in the direction indicated by arrow 73.

Referring to FIGURE 10 a tube former 85 converts film from a roll 86 offlat stock into a tube 19. Tube 19 passes over a backing plate 87 and isrolled into a roll 88. Tube 19 moves continuously. Above backing plate87 are a pair of continuously rotating rollers 90 and 91. Projectingfrom one side of roller 91 is a heated sealing bar 92, which, at spacedintervals, seals the two sides of tube 19 together (as at seal line 38of FIGURE 2), Projecting from one side of roller 90 is a cutter blade 93which extends longitudinally of the roller 90. Cutter blade 93 shearsone side of tube 19 to make a cut corresponding to cut 37 of FIGURE 2.We have discovered that by a shearing action of this kind we can cut oneside of the tube without cutting the opposite side of the tube as well.

The speed of rotation of rollers 90 and 91 is correlated to the speed oftravel of tube 19 across backing plate 87 so that the cuts 37 made byblade 93 will be immediately adjacent the seals 38 made by sealing head92. As a roll 88 is completed it is moved elsewhere for unrolling,opening, filling and final sealing. The manner in which these steps areperformed will be apparent from the description elsewhere herein.

Referring to FIGURES 12-14, a tube 19 is formed from a roll 86 of uatstock by a tube former 85. Tube 19 is drawn from tube former 85 by apair of continuously rotating rolls 95. Since the subsequent operationsinvolve an intermittent movement of tube 19, the tube is permitted toform a loop 96 between rollers and an idler roll 97. From idler roll 97,tube 19 moves across a backing plate 98 and is pinched between a pair ofrolls 99 and 100. Roll 99 is connected by a chain 101 to an intermittentdrive means 102. Intermittent drive means 102 periodically indexes tube19 in the direction indicated by arrow 103 a predetermined amount. Toobtain accurate indexing, roll 99 could be formed with a groove and aland as hereinafter described with respect to roll 122 of FIGURES 16-18.After passing between rolls 99 and 100, tube 19 again is allowed to forma loop 104 and thereafter is wound into a roll 105.

As tube 19 is dwelling on backing plate 98, a heated sealing head 108moves down to press the tube between it and the backing plate to form aseal 38 across the tube. At the same time, a cutter generally 109 movesdown to blank out a center opening 110 in both sides of the tube, aswell as to sever one side of the tube (and the gussets, if any) betweencenter opening 110 and the edges of that side. The cuts at oppositesides of opening 110 are illustrated in FIGURE 15 at 111. The positionof sealing head 108 and cutter 109 are such that with each indexingmovement of tube 19 across backing plate 98, the seal 38 and the cutswill be immediately adjacent to each other.

As best seen in FIGURES 13 and 14, cutter 109 has a blanking punch 113centered therein. Punch 113 reciprocates into an opening 114 in backingplate 98. It is punch 113 that produce openings 110 through the tube.Extending to each side of punch 113 is a blade 115 having a sharpenedcutter edge 116. The extent of movement of cutting edge 116 isaccurately controlled so that it will sever only one side of tube 19(and the gussets, if any), but not the opposite side wall of the tube.The punch 113, however, passes completzly through the tube.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that cuter blades 115need not be a part of punch 113. For example, openings could be punchedat one station and the side of the tube severed at another station toproduce cut 111. The forming of cuts 111 at another station could becarried out by apparatus similar to blades 115 or, for example, by a hotwire cutter with a backing plate as in FIGURE 4.

The apparatus of FIGURES 16l8 was devised to package ice cream bars orthe like, using a tube of the type just discussed and iliustrated inFIGURES 15 and 16. The tube is fed into the machine between a pair offeed rolls 121 and 122. Roll 122 is mounted on a shaft 123, suitablyjournaled in frame 120. Also affixed to shaft 123 are a pair of gears124 and 125.

Longitudinally across one side of roll 122 is a groove 127. Groove 127is interrupted midway between the ends of roll 122 to define acurvilinear land 128 which has the same cylindrical periphery as that ofroll 122. Tube 19 is positioned so that land 128 will enter openings 110as the opening enters the pinch line between rolls 121 and 122. Asgroove 127 becomes centered along the pinch line between the two rolls,land 128 serves to index or correlate the longitudinal position of tube19 with the machine. Any minor misalignments will be corrected by tube19 slipping until land 128 is properly centered in opening 110 in thetube. This particular construction has been discovered to be much moredesirable than would be an indexing dog or protrusion which projectedabove the surface of roll 122. The latter type of indexing member willoften tear the tube when a misalignment occurs. Such tearing is avoidedby the depression and land structure just described.

Roll 121 is journaled 0n the shaft 129 (FIG. 18). Projecting from eachend of shaft 129 are a pair of stub shafts 130. Stub shafts 130 aresuitably journaled in frame 120. As best seen in FIGURE 18 stub shafts130 are eccentric with respect to shaft 129. A handle 131 is secured toone of stub shafts 130. By rotating handle 131 and the stub shafts, roll121 is moved away or toward roll 122. Roll 121 has a gear 132 whichengages gear 124 when roll 121 is in operative position.

Gear 125 meshes with an idler gear 134, journaled on a stub shaft 135secured to frame 120. A gear 136 also is secured to gear 134 to rotatetherewith. Gear 136 meshes with a gear 137 secured to shaft 138. Shaft138 is journaled in frame 120. The driven wheel 139 of a Geneva Drivegenerally 140 likewise is attached to shaft 138.

The driving Wheel 142 of the Geneva Drive is attached to a sprocket 143,and the two are attached to a shaft 144 journaled in frame 120. GenevaDrive 140 includes a driving pin 145 on driving wheel 142 which entersslots 146 of driven wheel 139 to periodically index shaft 138. Apartially cylindrical centering member 147 is affixed to driving wheel142 concentric with shaft 144 and rotates within cutouts 148 of drivenwheel 139 during the dwell periods between each indexing stop tomaintain the desired position of shaft 138 during those dwell periods.

A chain 150 engages both sprocket 143 and a sprocket 151 on the outputshaft 152 of a gear reduction drive 153. Reduction drive 153 is poweredby an electric motor 154.

A series of cams 156-160 are secured to shaft 144. A cam follower 161rides on cam 158 and controls the actuation of a vacuum valve 162. Oneside of the input of valve 162 is connected by a pipe 163 to a suitablesource of vacuum (not shown). The other input pipe 164 is open toatmosphere. A hose 165 on the other side of valve 162 is connectedeither to the vacuum or to atmosphere, depending upon the position ofcam follower 161. As will hereinafter be described, the vacuum is usedto open each compartment for filling.

A pair of cam followers 167 ride on cams 157 and 159. Followers 167 aremounted on one arm of L-shaped members 168, each of which are attachedto a shaft 169 suitably journaled in frame 120. The other ends ofL-shaped members 168 are bifurcated and fit about a connecting pin 170secured between push rods 171. Push rods 171 are journaled in frame 120for horizontal linear movement. A vacuum head 172 is secured to theoutstanding ends of rods 171 and supports a vacuum cup 173 whichcommunicates with the interior of the vacuum head. The vacuum hose 165from valve 162 also communicates with the interior of head 172 and thuswith vacuum cup 173.

Pivotally secured to members 168 are abutments 175. Rods 176 are securedat one end to frame 120 and slide through openings in abutments 175adjacent the other end thereof. A compression spring 177 encircles rod176 between abutment 175 and the point of attachment of the rod to frame120. As viewed in FIGURE 18, spring 177 urges members 168 clockwise sothat cam followers 167 remain in contact with the surfaces of cams 157and 159.

Cams 156 and 160 operate a pair of cam followers 179 mounted on one armof members 180. Members 180 are secured to a shaft 181 suitablyjournaled in frame 120. A second arm of each member 180 has a gearsegment 182 which engages a gear segment 183 on a corresponding member184. Members 184 are mounted on a shaft 185 journaled in frame 120. Thetwo depending arms of members 180 and 184 are connected by a spring 186.Springs 186 urge members 180 in a clockwise direction so that camfollower 179 remains in contact with its respective cam. At the sametime springs 186 urge members 184 in a counterclockwise direction. Gearsegments 182 and 183 cause members 180 and 184 to rotate concurrently inopposite direct-ions.

A cold sealing head 189 and a hot sealing head 190 are both mounted on apair of rods 191. Rods 191 are journaled in cold sealing head 189 andare atfixed to hot sealing head 190 by set screws 192. The outwardextent of movement of cold sealing head 189 on rods 191 is limited by Cwashers 193 received in grooves adjacent the ends of rods 191.

A cutter head 195 also is journaled on rods 191. Springs 196, about rods191, urge cutter head 195 away from sealing head 190 (to the right asillustrated in FIG. 18). C washers 197 in grooves adjacent the ends ofrods 190 limit the extent to which cutter head 195 can move away fromsealing head 190.

The upper arm of member 180 is journaled on a pin 198 secured to cutterhead 195. Similarly, the upper arm of member 184 is journaled on pins199 secured to sealing head 189. A cutter blade 201 is secured to cutterhead 195 and passes through a slot 202 in sealing head 190. A cutterblade 203 is secured to scaling head 189 and is received in a slot 204therein. The adjacent ends of cutter blades 201 and 203 are beveled inthe same general direction. Cutter blade 201 is positioned immediatelyabove cutter blade 203. The end of slot 204 adjacent sealing head 190 isenlarged to receive cutter blade 201.

The cutting edge of blade 201 has a notch in the center thereof. Thenotch is approximately the size of stick 205 of ice cream 206. Thus, asthe blades are moved together as hereinafter described, blade 201 willmove about the stick 205 of the ice cream bar and enter enlarged slot204 to severe the previously filled compartment by a scissor action inconjunction with blade 203. An electric heater 208 is mounted in sealinghead 190 so as to heat the sealing head to a temperature proper for thesealing of the flexible material from which tube 19 is formed.

After one compartment of tube 19 has been filled and the nextcompartment is to be moved into position for filling, vacuum head 172 ispositioned outwardly approximately in the position illustrated in FIG.16 and sealing heads 18 9 and 190 are separated approximately asillustrated therein. Valve 162 applies atmospheric pressure to vacuumcup 173 (or a pressure in excess of atmospheric if desired) to releasethe vacuum cup from the filled compartment. At this time, Geneva Drive140 rotates rollers 121 and 122 one revolution so as to advance tube 19one compartment to the left, as viewed in FIG. 16. As previouslydescribed herein, roller 122 accurately indexes the extent of movementof tube 19 so as to properly position the next compartment for filling.

Vacuum head 172 is moved to bring vacuum cup 173 in contact with theouter face of the compartment to be filled. A vacuum is applied to thevacuum cup and the vacuum head is then returned to the positionillustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. This opens the compartment for filling.Automatic means operating in timed relationship, and represented in FIG.18 by tongs 209, lowers an ice cream bar 206 into the open mouth of thecompartment. Tongs 209 then release stick 205 and then moves to pick upanother ice cream bar.

Cams 156 and 160 rotate members 180 counterclockwise. This movementproduces a corresponding clockwise rotation of members 184. Cutter head195 and sealing head 190 move to the left while sealing head 189 movesto the right. Spring 196 is sufficiently strong to maintain theillustrated position of cutter head 195 with respect to sealing head 190until the two sealing heads 189 and 190 come into contact with theopposite faces of tube 19 intermediate the compartment just being filledand the adjacent compartment that was previously filled. Thereafter,cutter head 195 compresses spring 196 to push blade 201 through thematerial of the tube with blade 201 entering the slot 204 immediatelyabove cutter blade 203. Thus, the compartment previously filled issevered from the continuous tube.

At the same time, the two sealing heads 189 and 190 press the oppositesides of the tube together about stick 205. Sealing head 190 suppliessufficient heat to secure these two sides to each other. This heat, plusthe pressure previously described, securely seals the open mouth of thefilled compartment. Thereafter, sealing heads 189 and 190 are movedapart. The filled and sealed compartment, which has just been severedfrom the tube, falls by gravity onto a suitable conveyor (not shown) tobe taken away. In the manner already described, vacuum cup 173 isreleased and Geneva Drive 140 indexes tube 19 downwardly for the fillingof the next compartment.

While the tube forming apparatus of FIGURES 12-14 and the filling andclosing apparatus of FIGURES l618 are separately illustrated anddescribed, both could be used together in a single machine. The same istrue for other specific embodiments illustrated in different figures ofthe drawings.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for use in packaging product using an elongated tubeof packaging material having a line of openings extending through twoopposite sides at spaced intervals therealong, and having slits in oneof said sides extending transversely of the tube at opposite sides ofeach opening, the improvement comprising: a frame; means on said frameto move the tube in a given direction along a predetermined path; saidmeans including a pair of driving rollers engaging opposite sides of thetube, one of said rollers having a circumference approximately equal tothe distance between the center of adjacent openings, said one rollerhaving a longitudinal slot along one side thereof and a land bridgingsaid slot in alignment with the line of openings and having a perpiheryapproximately corresponding to that of the one roller, whereby when thetube is inserted with an opening over the land and the rollers rotatedthe land will index the tube, and means connected to the one roller torotate the same; and means along said path to sequentially separate saidone side of the tube, in one longitudinal direction from each slit, fromthe opposite side of the tube to enable product to be inserted throughthe opening into the cut.

2. In an apparatus for use in packaging product using an elongated tubeof packaging material having a line of openings therethrough at spacedintervals therealong, the improvement comprising: a pair of drivingrollers for moving the tube in a given direction, said rollers engagingopposte sides of the tube, one of said rollers having a circumferenceapproximately equal to the distance between the center of adjacentopenings, said one roller having a longitudinal slot along one sidethereof and a land bridging said slot in alignment with the line ofopenings, whereby when the tube is inserted with an opening over theland and the rollers rotated the land will index the tube; and meansconnected to the one roller to rotate the same.

3. Apparatus for feeding and longitudinally indexing a web provided withuniformly spaced gaps therein along a longitudinal line, a portion ofthe web laterally adjacent the web gaps being continuous, a pair ofdriving rollers for moving the web in its longitudinal direction, saidrollers engaging opposite sides of the web, one of said rollers having acircumference correlated to the distance between the centers ofsuccessive openings, the said one roller having its circumferentialsurface continuous throughout the circumference at an axial position onthe roller corresponding to the said longitudinal line of the web,whereby that portion will advance the web until a web gap comes betweensaid pair of driving rollers at which time said portion will cease toadvance the web; and a second portion of said roller laterally displacedfrom the first to be in alignment with said continuous portion of theWeb, having an interrupted circumferential surface whereby if the web isapproximately indexed in correlation to said interruption of the surfaceof said second portion of the roller, the web will momentarily come torest when the web gap comes between the rollers, and will then berestarted with an exactly indexed correlationship between the leadingedge of the interrupted surface of the roller and the web gap.

4. Apparatus for feeding and longitudinally indexing a web provided withuniformly spaced gaps therein along a longitudinal line, a portion ofthe web laterally adja cent the web gaps being continuous, a pair ofdriving rollers for moving the web in its longitudinal direction, saidrollers engaging opposite sides of the web, one of said rollers having acircumference correlated to the distance between the centers ofsuccessive web openings, said roller having a first surface portion atits circumference at the portion of the axial length of the roller inalignment with said web gaps, and having a second surface portion atanother axial position on the roller, in alignment with the continuousportion of the web, said second surface portion being at thecircumference of the roller but being interrupted in a circumferentialposition corresponding to a portion of the first named roller surfaceportion whereby, while said interrupted portion of the second surfaceportion is adjacent the Web, said first named roller surface portionfirst will advance the web but will then cease advancing the web whenthe web gap comes between said rollers, and whereby the leading edge ofsaid second portion of the web will then restart the web with exactindexing between the said leading edge and said web gap.

5. An apparatus for use in packaging product in a tube of packagingmaterial, said apparatus including: a device for moving said tube alonga given path in a given direction; cutting means at one side of saidpath to cut a plurality of openings in the adjacent side of the tube atspaced positions therealong; and sealing means positioned at the oneside of the path to attach the walls of the tube together along atransverse line spaced from each opening in a predetermined directionalong the tube and preceding the next succeeding position in saidpredetermined direction to define a plurality of compartments in thetube with an opening in each; wherein the cutting means cuts a holethrough said adjacent side and the side of the tube opposite thereto,and cuts slits in the adjacent side extending in opposite directionsfrom the hole and transversely to the tube, and wherein said deviceincludes a pair of driving rollers engaging opposite sides of the tube,one of said rollers having a circumference approximately equal to thedistance between the centers of adjacent openings, said one rollerhaving a longitudinal slot along one side thereof and a land bridgingsaid slot in alignment with the line of openings and having a periphery10 prising providing a hole throughthe Web and feeding it bybite-forming roller means engaging it, as the hole approaches the bite,solely in longitudinal alignment with the hole whereby the Web Will stopin an indexed position when the bite is spanned by the hole, andthereafter starting indexed movement of the web by correlated engagementof a starting element with another portion of the Web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,064 3/1'942 Moore 22662,612,738 10/1952 Salfisberg 5329 3,253,544 5/1966 Von Hofe 83278 XRBERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A APPARATUS FOR USE IN PACKAGING PRODUCT USING AN ELONGATED TUBEOF PACKAGE MATERIAL HAVING A LINE OF OPENING EXTENDING THROUGH TWOOPPOSITE SIDES AT SPACED INTERVALS THEREALONG, AND HAVING SLITS IN ONEOF SAID SIDES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE TUBE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OFEACH OPENING, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A FRAME; MEANS ON SAID FRAMETO MOVE THE TUBE IN A GIVEN DIRECTION ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH; SAIDMEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF DRIVING ROLLERS ENGAGING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THETUBE, ONE OF SAID ROLLERS HAVING A CIRCUMFERENCE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TOTHE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTER OF ADJACENT OPENINGS, SAID ONE ROLLERHAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A LAND BRIDGINGSAID SLOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LINE OF OPENING AND HAVING A PERIPHERYAPPROXIMATELY CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE ONE ROLLER, WHEREBY WHEN THETUBE IS INSERTED WITH AN OPENING OVER THE LAND AND THE ROLLERS ROTATEDTHE LAND WILL INDEX THE TUBE, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ONE ROLLER TOROTATE THE SAME; AND MEANS ALONG SAID PATH TO SEQUENTIALLY SEPARATE SAIDONE SIDE OF THE TUBE, IN ONE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION FROM EACH SLIT, FROMTHE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TUBE TO ENABLE PRODUCT TO BE INSERTED THROUGHTHE OPENING INTO THE CUT.